November 14, 2010

Thank you to everyone who has been submitting their work to the new magazine and to those who have been sending good vibes and support! If you don't know what I'm talking about, scroll down to Friday's post and then join the dance party I'm having out of excitement in my room right now.

I have little knowledge of horror movies and haven't seen too many, but I got a bit of an education as to how they work from watching Scream for the first time last night (obviously life-changing). As victim Sidney flippantly replies when asked by a serial killer if she likes scary movies, "What's the point? They're all the same, some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who can't act who's always running up the stairs when she should be going out the front door." Of course, the fate of a big-breasted girl is later at stake, and Sidney finds herself running up the stairs at some point.

Even though I was terrified throughout the majority of Scream, it's easier to take in when it satirizes its own genre by having the characters call out the horror movie clichés as they happen. They've seen tons of them, realize they're living in one, and know to abide by the rules -- don't have sex, drink, do drugs, or say "I'll be right back." The line, "But this isn't a movie, it's real life!" is constantly repeated. Which made me of course go, "Little do they know! Chuckle! Hyuk hyuk! HOLY SHIT HE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE HOLD ME."

Alfred Hitchcock said that blondes make the best victims*, and the murders of two typical horror-type ones in Scream provided wonderful visuals (especially for all the sadists out there, throw ya hands up!) (I am terrible) which reminded me a bit of Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Stills and Alex Prager's photographs. Sherman's because they depict clichéd female characters in film, and Prager's because she tends to take an angle that is creepily omniscient -- either in its decisive closeness or distance -- on distracted and doe-eyed female subjects placed in dead America. Though I can't say whether or not Prager intended for them to look like film stills, I have always gotten that vibe (and would like to direct you to an actual short film she made which is really rad).

Using the visuals for dressing inspiration would only mean simple vintage, so I'm just intrigued by this specific depiction of women in the horror genre. It's all so technicolor and eerie and too picturesque to end pretty.*So technically the blondes here aren't the main victims of Scream, and I'm sorry to bff Sid/Neve/Bonnie that she isn't included here, but she's one of the smarter characters, which isn't what this post is about.

100 comments:

First off; I think your blog is fantastic. I am in awe of the fact that, at 19, you are 6 years younger than me and yet write with style like i could never hope to achieve. Well done on creating a blog that has kept me, and i expect many others, interested for long amounts of time.

On the subject of horror films, if you haven't seen it already, take a look at 'Let the right one in' [the original, swedish, version of the recent American film 'Let me in']. Not only is it a 'horror' film but it is also a beautiful, touching film. Possibly one of my favourite films.

Please take a look a my blog sometime [although i've literally only just started it] iwillalwaysdare.blogspot.com

the way all of these photographs/works put the "male gaze" into question is just so interesting and powerful. i'm glad you're writing about this so more and more people start thinking about these things outside of classrooms, film studies textbooks, and feminist zines.

a somewhat different post, but still wonderful!i'm not sure what movies (horror) you have or have not seen, but i get the feeling you'd like some of the classics. Rosemary's baby, psycho... maybe eerie ones as oppose to gorey & scary too! those are always my favorite.

Tavi did you see "The Collector" from 1965.This is probably one of my favourite films because it's really moody. It also has some kind of archetypal behaviour on behalf of his 'victims'. Nonetheless I really thought it was sad and kind of depressing, in a Phantom of the Opera/Frankenstein sort of way, where I can empathize alot with the potentially dangerous character.

I realized I can no longer watch horror, but not b/c of the images, but the soundtracks. It gets my heart racing and gives me the physical symptoms of anxiety/panic attacks. I had to turn ringu off after 20 minutes and there wasn't even any blood, just violins.but before I got too sensitive, I really loved a psychological thriller called the wickerman. It starts out as you'd think, girl as victim, but trust me, it is not anything out of a cindy sherman photo.

Getting ready for the next Scream film? Personally Scream was never the best horror movie I was always partial to ones with a super natural tone like Nightmare on Elm Street (not the new one, which was just wrong wrong wrong) it was classic and Robert Englund played the character with such cynical enjoyment that is was hard not to like that film. Though, both films are Wes Craven masterpieces I will say that I am a little sad about his latest endeavor my Soul To Take as it tried to mix Scream and Nightmare into one movie and failed...oh Wes have we finally fallen from grace?

I agree with Sky, on all counts. Let the Right One In is an unrivaled class act. And while we're discussing my favorite pseudo-horror films, Drag Me to Hell with its blonde heroine is relevant and lots of fun. Also, The Host, not the upcoming adaptation of the Stephanie Meyer novel, but rather the Korean horror film. And if we're discussing Korean films, we may as well connect it back to vampires by mentioning The Thirst, by Chan Wook Park, who, if you give him a chance, will be your new best friend. And like Sky, I've just started a blog. I really have no idea what I'm doing, but my sister is a big fan of yours and I'm starting to see why. Your recent witchy posts really drew me in, which I suppose is the exact nature of witchcraft.

I'm not a fan of horror films, that's not my favourite movie genre, but I'm really amazed by you post *_*I've never thought about some conscious fashion choice in that kind of movie.. I just thought that too blood and too scary character weren't for me.

BUT, watching those movies considering your point of view, make me curious :)

I especially love this post - I scarcely watch any kind of movies, horror films are the solitary exceptions.

I may be biased - horror is my genre, I love to play with innermost fears when I write. Once I wrote gothic/mystic romances; by now I turned completely to psychological horror/classic horror story. Horror is a genre for people who think (righteously) that this world is not a safe place.

"Scream" and "I Know What You Did..." were big hits when I was a teen girl, I quite liked both. However, there are better horror films, and horror books are so much better! Even Stephen King movie adaptations are not half as good as they were in their book forms.

As for fashion - when I was a child, Twin Peaks was fashionable, and female magazines did elaborate on the characters' clothes. I would like to see your opinion about those.

I just watched your speech for ideaCity10 because I wanted to hear you talk, and I was so happy to hear your speech was on Sassy, and now to connect that with your previous post... ah! So awesome. Can't wait.

start looking forward to the first time you watch Alien or Silence of the Lambs ^__^ and i strongly second the recommendations of Let The Right One In and the Œuvre of Park Chan-wook. i'm not a big fan of supernatural horror or slasher flicks (this genres seem to be at their best when they parody themselves, like in Scream or Evil Dead), but i'd like to add some movies besides the obvious candidates like Sixth Sense, Se7en, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blair Witch and the early gems (Nosferatu, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Freaks, etc.) anyway: The Hunger, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Interview With The Vampire (both have great but somewhat pompous visuals), Don’t Look Now, Videodrome and They Live. throw in some japanese and korean films like Ju-on, A Tale of Two Sisters, Hansel and Gretel, Paranoia Agent or Uzumaki, mix it with european stuff like Martyrs, Tesis, [REC], Inside and Haneke's Funny Games. once you ingested that cocktail you're ready for seriously fucked-up stuff like Visitor Q or A Serbian Film ^_____^wow, this was some serious namedropping... sorry about that. guess i'm as vain and easily tempted to flaunt as anybody ;)

If you want good horror you must check out almost all Hitchcock films, horror and style in one package. And utter genius, obviously. But also I think you would love the swedish 'horror' film Let the Right One In, I say its a horror but I saw it more as a love story... anyhow. Late70s early 80s styling in the deep snow. Unfortunately as hollywood seems to do they are re-making it (they'll probably gloss it up and make it sh*t) anyhow, you will fall in love with this film. Watch it. Much better than scream and suchlike.

i love birds.. :) dont know why! but i get scared so easily at modern horror flicks i dont really watch many. saw gave me nightmares for about a month! great post - LOVE your blog! :) http://improcrastinate.blogspot.com

i love birds.. :) dont know why! but i get scared so easily at modern horror flicks i dont really watch many. saw gave me nightmares for about a month! great post - LOVE your blog! :) http://improcrastinate.blogspot.com

i love birds.. :) dont know why! but i get scared so easily at modern horror flicks i dont really watch many. saw gave me nightmares for about a month! great post - LOVE your blog! :) http://improcrastinate.blogspot.com

This comment regards the video posted today regarding the video that was posted in nymag regarding your mag idea....

as a former apparel design gal & a current jr high art teacher/anthropology grad student doing her thesis on teen girls, i'd very much like to send you some thoughts, but in a more private manner? however, there is no way that i can do this on here.

if you would be open to that, could you send me a contact email on my alternate work email? jenspence278@gmail.com

I love love LOVED Scream! when it came out I worked at a video store and was going though a horror movie phase and watched this movie more than once a day everyday for a month.... I had to stop, not because I was sick of it, but because I knew it so well.... was a true shame. the sequels aren't nearly as good... as is the norm for most sequels, but I am still excited and terrified that they are making a new one as we speak!! yay.

Love you! And just so you know, I have spoken with Alex Prager (she visited my photo class a couple of weeks ago) and she did intend her photos to be reminiscent of film stills. And the reason that she made her short film "Despair" was to illustrate the "before, during, and after" of her photos that she has been asked about by viewers of her work. Plus she is adorable in person.

You have absolutely fabulous taste in art and culture at such a young age, don't let any of the media moths tell you someone else is becoming the next 'Tavi' there is only one and only ever will be. I really enjoy reading your blog and it inspires my design work greatly, therefore I love wearing my borders and frontiers t-shirt with pride :)

So.... I really like your blog(I know almost everyone is saying this to you) and my comments are not really creative and special (that´s because english isn´t my first language) but now I´ll stop excusing myself for everything now :D (mostly I´m not even recognizing it)ah... and I want to say that each time I need inspiration , I´m visiting your blog ( so it´s really positive ;) )regards from boring germany ;)

My name is Claire Bartholomew, and I am a writer for a student newspaper in Bethesda, Maryland. We're interested in writing a story about your success as a fashion blogger, especially your trip to Fashion Week and your new magazine. Please let me know if it would possible to set up an interview. I apologize for contacting you so informally, but I was not sure how else to get in touch with you. You can contact me at claire.bartholomew14@gmail.com.

I absolutely love your blog...and your style is fantastic...I do love horror movies...though I think the genre has gone a little downwards..its just to much gore..they´re are no longer using the keeping the nerves on the edge factor its just fear out of disgust...personally I prefer a movie that keeps me about to pop out of my seat and in the verge of screaming anytime...and that plays with my mind those are great cause you actually get in the movie and feel the fear and the emotions along with the characters which, I think, is what a good movie should do.Please come anytime and visit my blog and leave a comment would be really cool.

hello! I just wanted to say you that your blog is amazing and fantatic. You mix easily art, fashion and so many other thing !I'm from Paris and i have to say that in my class, 9 girls of the 13 know your blog !hope to see you soon on http://iloveyourjokes.blogspot.com/ Elise